The Bair Hugger blanket has a cutesy, friendly-sounding name — but for some surgical patients, it causes complications that are anything but friendly. It is a forced-air system used to keep patients warm during surgery. However, some evidence suggests that the Bair Hugger’s design may contribute to infections, burns, and other major complications. If you have been harmed by the Bair Hugger blanket, you may have legal recourse, and Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law may be able to help you.
If you suffer serious complications because of a medical device, you shouldn’t be left to deal with those complications alone. Compensation might not be able to heal your injury, but it can cover your medical expenses and support you through the healing process.
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We understand that when it comes to choosing a Houston personal injury lawyer, you have options. That’s why the team at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law is determined to set a new standard in the field. Here’s a brief rundown of why we’re the firm to choose for personal injury cases:
- We have recovered more than $1 billion for our clients.
- We have more than 40 years of legal experience in Houston.
- Our team includes attorneys who are board certified in personal injury trial law.
- Firm founder Terry Bryant is a former judge.
- Our online reviews include 98% positive ratings.
- We give 110% for our clients — every time.
Our legal knowledge and experience all boil down to one key benefit for you — we know what it takes to win your case.
What Is the Bair Hugger Warming Blanket? What Problems Does It Cause?
The Bair Hugger is a specialized blanket used to keep patients warm during surgery. It is manufactured by 3M. The Bair Hugger forces warm air through a hose and into a blanket, and the blanket distributes the heat over the patient’s body.
Hypothermia during surgery can cause complications for patients, so the Bair Hugger serves an important purpose. However, recent research suggests it may contribute to post-surgical infections and other major problems. While 3M maintains that it is perfectly safe, even Dr. Scott Augustine, who invented the Bair Hugger, is now campaigning against its use. Many patients have been through surgeries with the Bair Hugger and have suffered no complications, but patients who do have complications often suffer major problems.
Surgical Site Infections (SSI)
By some estimates, up to 6.8% of patients who receive certain types of orthopedic surgery suffer from surgical site infections. While experts disagree on the cause of these infections, some experts (including Dr. Augustine) believe the Bair Hugger is to blame. There are several different ways the warming blanket may cause infections:
- It draws air from around possibly contaminated floors and blows it across the surgical site.
- The built-in filter becomes less effective at removing pathogens from the air over time.
- It disrupts the normal airflow of the operating room, which is designed to push contaminants away from the patient.
Surgical site infections can cause serious complications, especially in joint replacement surgeries. If an infection develops at the site of the implant, bacteria may form a film around it, making it nearly impossible for your immune system to fight the infection. Often, the only way to get rid of the infection is to do surgery to clear the infected tissue and remove the artificial joint. Once the infection is treated with antibiotics, your doctor will perform a revision surgery and replace the joint.
This complication is an especially life-altering one. Undergoing multiple surgeries isn’t just expensive — it involves serious physical pain and downtime while you heal. Because you are left without a joint while you wait for the infection to be completely cleared with antibiotics, your mobility will be severely limited.
If you don’t treat an infected joint replacement or wait too long to seek treatment, there is a possibility that you will develop sepsis. This is an improper immune response to infection, and it is potentially life-threatening. In extreme cases, the affected limb may even need to be amputated.
If you’re dealing with major post-surgical complications, you may be eligible for compensation. Call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free and confidential consultation.
Burns
While they aren’t as widely talked about as surgical site infections, Bair Hugger burns can be very serious. Sometimes, the blanket can become detached from the hose that delivers hot air during the surgery. When this happens, the hot air isn’t distributed over the patient’s skin through holes in the blanket. Instead, the hose blasts hot air in a concentrated stream. The air is hotter than many people realize, and it can lead to second- and third-degree burns. Patients who suffer these severe burns may have to undergo treatments like these:
- Debridement (removal of destroyed tissue from the surface of the burned area)
- IV antibiotics
- Skin grafting
- Reconstructive surgery.
When a patient suffers burns from a Bair Hugger warming blanket, they don’t only have to deal with the pain that comes with a healing burn — they also must deal with healing from surgery.
What Kinds of Compensation Are Bair Hugger Patients Receiving?
The amount you may receive from a lawsuit settlement depends on the details of your case. Generally, the damages (compensation for losses) you receive fall into two different categories:
- Economic Damages: Compensation for quantifiable losses like medical bills
- Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for intangible losses like pain and suffering.
Economic damages are easy enough to calculate, but there’s more room for interpretation with non-economic damages. Usually, the more your surgical complications interfere with your life, the greater your non-economic damages will be. For instance, someone who suffers a lifelong disability as a result of a post-surgical infection would likely receive more compensation than someone whose complications healed with no lasting problems.
How Do You Know If You Have a Bair Hugger Lawsuit?
Most patients don’t know what kind of warming blanket was used during their surgery. However, because a large portion of American hospitals use the Bair Hugger, there’s a good chance this was the blanket used in your surgery as well.
If you have suffered serious complications after a surgery — especially if your surgery was a joint replacement — you may be a good candidate for a Bair Hugger lawsuit. When you call us for your free consultation, we can help you determine whether the hospital that performed your surgery used a Bair Hugger. We can also discuss your case with you and determine whether you’re likely to be eligible for compensation.
Essentially, if you have suffered major complications after surgery, the Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law team wants to hear from you! We can determine whether a Bair Hugger was part of your surgery, and, if it was, we can guide you through the next steps.
FAQ
Many of our clients come to us with questions. Here are some of the ones we commonly hear.
What is the Bair Hugger warming blanket?
The Bair Hugger is a blanket that uses forced, heated air to keep patients warm during surgery. Research indicates that its design may contribute to infections and other post-surgical complications.
How do I know if I have been harmed by the Bair Hugger?
If you aren’t sure if your surgeon used the Bair Hugger in your surgery, don’t worry — we can help you determine whether it was used and if it may have contributed to your post-surgical complications.
How much can I get from a Bair Hugger lawsuit?
That depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries and the level of negligence of your surgeon or hospital. The only way to know what your case is worth is to call us for a free consultation.
How much does it cost to work with you?
We work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing up front. If we take your case, you agree to pay us a set percentage of any compensation you recover.
If you have any other questions beyond the ones listed above, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Have You Been Harmed by the Bair Hugger Warming Blanket?
Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law Is Here for You
The manufacturers of the Bair Hugger warming blanket might argue that it’s perfectly safe, but patients continue to be harmed during its use. There are a growing number of lawsuits over Bair Hugger-related injuries, and many patients are receiving the compensation they deserve as they struggle through infections, burns, and other complications.
At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, our team has the knowledge, experience, and tenacity needed to represent you during negotiations and in court. If you think you have been harmed by the Bair Hugger blanket, we urge you to call us as soon as you can.
If you’ve been harmed by the Bair Hugger warming blanket, you are not alone. Call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law now at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free consultation.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
